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Can Bulk Soap Be Contaminated?

How Does it Happen? Bacteria from fecal matter & other sources can grow inside the dispenser.

By: Keith Schneringer  |  July 3, 2019

The sad truth is that soap from bulk soap dispensers is prone to becoming contaminated.

According to recent studies, contaminated soap may actually do the opposite of what they're supposed to do. Instead of removing germs, they may be adding some!

Think about it – in order to refill a bulk soap dispenser, the dispenser and the left over soap remaining inside of it are exposed to the environment. Airborne germs, foreign objects, and potential inadvertent hand contact from a janitor who may have just cleaned the toilets can all mix in to the bulk soap dispenser and contribute to possible contamination. Not to mention the more sinister prospect of contamination through intentional vandalism to the bulk soap as it sits in an “open” bulk soap dispenser.

Topics: Hand Hygiene, Health, Infection Prevention

Gym Floor Maintenance Schedule: Routine Cleaning to Refinishing

By: WAXIE Editorial Staff  |  June 19, 2019

As with anything, if you routinely take care of something it will last a long time, and it's no different when it comes to gym floors.

Gymnasiums are often the “showcase” of a school or athletic club. Good looking, shiny floors convey a positive image to the public, school officials and athletic teams that use these facilities. Sports floors need specific, proven maintenance systems that will enhance their natural beauty and protect their substantial investment. 

Wood floor care can be divided into two main systems:

• Water-Based (recommended)
• Solvent-Based (oil-modified) and Epoxy

Topics: wood floors, Hard Floor Care, flooring, gym floors

The Case for Better Indoor Air Quality, Plus 3 Ways to Make it Happen

By: Chris Meyer  |  June 5, 2019

Given that US employers lose over $260 billion each year from health-related employee absences and decreased productivity, organizations are increasingly aware of the importance of their employees’ health and its impact on the bottom line.

Add to that the fact that our environment—indoors and out—is top of mind for many business leaders, and it becomes clear that the cleaning industry has a significant business opportunity.

A case in point? Indoor air quality.

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, workplace wellness, floor matting

Semper Paratus – “Always Ready”: WAXIE’s Michael Gould Honored with Prestigious Military Awards and Advancement to Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves

Petty Officer Michael Gould (center) receiving the 2018 Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year Award and Coast Guard Commendation Medal with Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (left) and Master Chief Petty Officer of the United States Coast Guard Reserves George Williamson (right). 

By: Briana Smith  |  May 29, 2019

WAXIE has great respect and a long history of supporting those in the U.S. military dating back to our founders Morris Wax and Harry Wax who served in the U.S. Army & U.S. Navy respectively. 

So you can imagine how excited we were when it was announced that one of our employees, who was deployed with the Coast Guard at the time, earned the recognition of Coast Guard’s 2018 Enlisted Person of the Year Reserve Component (REPOY) soon after being presented with the Q4 2018 JTF (Joint Task Force – Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) Enlisted Professional of the Quarter award.

WAXIE Santa Ana’s Regional Sales Manager Michael Gould spent six years in the U.S. Navy after graduating high school. Mike began his career at WAXIE in 2003 but said that he always had a “flag shaped hole in his heart” since separating from the military the first go-around and wanted to continue serving his country so he joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a reservist in 2012. 

Topics: company news

A Tribute to a WAXIE Trailblazer: Jim Fischer

Jim Fischer and his wife Jan Fischer

By: Rick Hazard  |  May 17, 2019

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the loss of one of WAXIE’s finest, Jim Fischer. Jim passed away suddenly in his home in Scottsdale, AZ on Monday, May 13, 2019. He leaves behind his wife Jan, and their two children Christian and April. Jim was born and raised in Minnesota where he grew up working on the family farm. He would often refer to his childhood as the foundation for establishing a strong work ethic. 

Jim began his career at WAXIE in January of 1987 as a warehouse worker. Over the next 32 years he ascended through the ranks to become Vice President, Business Development working closely with corporate accounts and Network Services, Inc. Along the way he held positions as Warehouse Manager, Operations Manager, Account Consultant, Sales Manager, and General Manager. 

Topics: company news

SustainOne, American Paper Converting & WAXIE Honored by the Seattle Mariners

Pictured from left: Paul Trimberger, Seattle Sales Manager, WAXIE Sanitary Supply; Brian Work, Sales Manager, APC; Paul Rebner, Account Consultant, WAXIE Sanitary Supply; The Mariner Moose; Lydia Work, President & Owner of SustainOne/APC; Jeff Roberts, President & COO, WAXIE Sanitary Supply; and Rick Jones, Seattle General Manager, WAXIE Sanitary Supply. Photo courtesy of the Seattle Mariners.

Hard Work and Exceptional Dedication Displayed by Diverse Suppliers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS PROVIDED BY: WAXIE Sanitary Supply
May 6, 2019

SEATTLE, WA, May 6, 2019 – On Monday, April 15, 2019, the Seattle Mariners recognized Lydia Work and her company SustainOne, along with Paul Rebner of WAXIE Sanitary Supply for their combined support of the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball’s Supplier Diversity Program.

The Seattle Mariners have established diversity goals that align with the Supplier Diversity Program of Major League Baseball (MLB) in their purchasing practices. SustainOne is a Woman-Owned Small Business as well as a Minority-Owned Business that partnered with WAXIE to help the Mariners exceed their goals.

Topics: press release, company news

Food Safety: Your Health (& Others) is in Your Hand Hygiene

By: Chris Meyer  |  May 3, 2019

Each year on World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campaign to spread awareness about the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare environments.

While the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare can’t be understated, it’s not just healthcare workers whose hand hygiene practices could potentially pose a serious health issue for others. Foodservice workers’ hand hygiene, or lack thereof, also has a significant impact on the health of the public. 

So, just as the CDC and the WHO have done for healthcare workers, WAXIE is aiming to bring awareness of the need for hand hygiene improvement in the foodservice industry too on this year’s World Hand Hygiene Day. 

Towards that end, this post will illustrate the importance of hand hygiene in the foodservice industry and demonstrate how your organization can start implementing best practices for improving hand hygiene immediately.

Topics: Hand Hygiene, Foodservice, Infection Prevention

Earth Day – How Would You Like To Celebrate?

By: Keith Schneringer  |  April 22, 2019

As has been written in previous articles about Earth Day on this blog, the first Earth Day celebration took place on April 22, 1970.

Since that first event, Earth Day celebrations in 2019 have now grown to include an estimated one billion people in 192 countries, according to the Earth Day Network.

Will this estimated total of one billion people include you?

If this estimated total of people won’t include you, and you would like it to, what should you do?

Topics: Earth Day, Recycling, Sustainability

WAXIE Sanitary Supply’s Utah Facility Earns Local & Regional 2019 TOBY Award

The Award Recognizes Quality in Commercial Buildings and Rewards Excellence 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS PROVIDED BY: WAXIE Sanitary Supply, written by Chris Meyer
April 18, 2019

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – WAXIE Sanitary Supply’s Inventory Center in Salt Lake City earned The 2019 Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) award in the Industrial Office Building category in March.

The award, which recognizes quality in commercial buildings and rewards excellence in building management, was presented to WAXIE by the Utah Chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA).

Topics: Sustainability, press release, company news